Euro 2020: Switzerland beat World champions France 5-4 on penalties after 3-3 draw to advance to the quarterfinals

Written by on June 29, 2021

Euro 2020: Switzerland beat World champions France 5-4 on penalties after 3-3 draw to advance to the quarterfinals

In the biggest shock of Euro 2020, France were eliminated at the hands of Switzerland following a 5-4 penalty loss on Monday night, June 28.

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The classic European Championship game ended with Switzerland qualifying to the next stage after star player Kylian Mbappe missed the crucial kick for France.

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France played badly in the first half as Didier Deschamps tried a three-man defence because of injuries to two of their left-backs.

Haris Seferovic headed the Swiss ahead and they had a penalty saved that could have made it 2-0 before Karim Benzema scored twice and Paul Pogba continued his fine performance for France to put the team 3-1 up with a screamer.

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Seferovic headed in his second goal of the game for Switzerland and substitute Mario Gavranovic then blasted in a last-minute equaliser to send the game to extra time.

Mbappe missed a couple of big chances for the world champions in extra time and Olivier Giroud had a header saved in the final minute.

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Then penalties started after extra time.

Mbappe was the only player to fail to score in the shootout, after an excellent save by Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

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The Swiss had been seconds away from elimination but are now through.

They will now face Spain after progressing from a major tournament knockout game for the first time since 1938.

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The last time Switzerland were in the quarter-finals of a major tournament was the 1954 World Cup that they hosted.

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